"Secret Talks". Just before the invasion
As reported by Politico, high-ranking officials from the US and the European Union met with their Russian counterparts in Turkey, with the goal of "finding a solution to the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh". The secret meeting took place "a few days before Azerbaijan began its military offensive".
The meeting was attended by Louis Bono, Washington's advisor on Caucasus negotiations, Toivo Klaar, representing the European Union in this region, and Igor Khovaev, President Putin's special envoy for relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
Politico Portal, citing information from a Western diplomat, reports that the meeting took place on September 17 in Istanbul. The main purpose of the talks was to put pressure on Azerbaijan, to end the nine-month blockade of Nagorno-Karabakh and allow the passage of humanitarian aid convoys from Armenia.
Such meetings are a "rarity"
The participants of the meeting focused on the issue of how to start these damn trucks and ensure food and fuel deliveries for about 100 thousand ethnic Armenians living in Nagorno-Karabakh.
Diplomatic meetings at such a high level are rare - notes Politico. It also recalls that during the meeting of US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on the sidelines of the G20 summit in India, Moscow insisted that the exchange of words took place on the go and no negotiations were conducted.
In a statement relayed to Politico portal, an European Union official emphasized the importance of maintaining communication channels with the relevant interlocutors to avoid misunderstandings. He also noted that over recent years, Toivo Klaar has sought to keep open communication channels with individuals such as Igor Chovayev and the Deputy Foreign Minister of Russia, Mikhail Galuzin.
The US State Department spokesman refused to comment on the meeting. However, an American official familiar with the situation explained that the discussions stemmed from understanding that the Kremlin still has a strong position in the region and can influence both sides of the conflict.
Azerbaijan's Lightning Offensive
On September 19, Azerbaijan launched a lightning offensive on Nagorno-Karabakh, sending tanks and the military under the cover of heavy artillery fire.
Armenian leaders in Karabakh were forced to surrender after 24 hours of fighting, in which hundreds of people on both sides were killed. The Armenian government claims that since then, over 100 thousand people have left their homes and fled abroad for fear of their lives. (PAP)
